Treatment of skins



ifatented Mar. 25, 192

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GEORGE DUCKVJORTH, OF ALBERT BARK, VICTORIA, A'U STRfiLIA TREATMENT OF SKINS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that GEORGE Dt'onwonrn, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Albert Park, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Treatment of Skins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the treatment of skins and refers more especially to the treatment of the skins of rabbits, hares, kangaroos, opossums and other animals of the rodentia species.

Hitherto the treatment of skins of this description has occasioned either destruction and consequent loss of the fur when the production of leather is desired or the destruction of the skins when it is desired to recover the fur or hair.

Now the object of the present invention is to provide a process or method of treatment whereby the fur and hair can be removed from the skins of rabbits, and such like animals in a suitable condition for commerical uses without injuring the skins and leaving them in a suitable condition for tanning, and subsequent treatment for the production of leather.

1 accomplish the above object by providing a method of treatment which comprises first soaking the skins in a solution of sulphide of soda and then soaking the skins so treated in a solution, preferably heated, containing ammonia for a desired period and afterwards submitting the said skins to sweating action at a suitable temperature for a desired period to loosen the fur and hair on the skins and subsequently removing the fur and hair by mechanical means.

In carrying the invention into practical efiect I first make a stock solution by dissolving approximately two pounds of sulphide of soda in a gallon of water. One part of this stock solution is added to about six parts of water and this weaker solution comprises the first liquor in which the skins are placed and allowed to soak for the requisite period for the removal of all blood and fatty matter. The second solution in which the skins so treated are placed consists of one part of ammonia (specific gravity .88, approximately) to from six to fifteen parts of water which is maintained at a temperature of from to 129 F.

The skins are then drained and allowed to remain in a sweating vat for a period of Application filed September 13, 1922.

Serial Ho. 588,090.

from 12 to 2 i-hours when the fur and hair is sufdciently loose on the skins to enable same to be readily removed by brushing, light scraping, or rubbing, or other mechanical means.

By way of illustration of an application of this invention 1 will now proceed to give an example of a treatment of a certain batch of skins but it will be understood that this is by way of illustration only and that I do not confine myself to the proportions, times and quantities stated which may be varied in accordance with ,the nature of the skins treated and the result to be attained which will be easily ascertainable by one skilled in the art. If necessary, a simple test can be made to ascertain the proportions, times and quantities most suitable for the treatment of any particular batch of skins.

Ewample.

A batch of skins comprising 10 dozen rabbit skins (120), weighing aproximately 15 lbs. was immersed in 10 gallons of the weak solution obtained as above indicated that is to say-approximately 3 lbs. of sulphide of soda to 10 gallons of water. The skins were allowed to soak in this solution for a period of about 12 hours. The skins were then taken from thissolution and all blood and fatty matter which had not been removed were mechanically scraped 0E and the skins were then placed in a vessel containing gallons of the second solution consisting of 4: pints of ammonia (specific gravity .88, approximately) to 4 gallons of water. The vessel in which this second immersion took place was provided with a .closable lid to avoid escape of ammonia.

This solution was maintained at a temperature of from 80 to 120 F. and the skins were left therein for a period of about 12 hours.

After this second immersion the skins were removed, drained, and placed in a sweating vat where they were allowed to remain for a period of from 12 to 24c hours. The skins were then found to be in a suitable condition for the removal of the fur which was easily effected by scraping or brushing whereby the fur was entirely re moved intact in a suitable condition for commercial uses such as in the manufacture of felt hats and the like. On the other hand the skins themselves were subsequently subjected to various tanning tree ments producing very satisfactory leathers of many difierent varieties.

The period during which the skins are allowed to sweat is determined by the strength of the ammonia solution and the temperature at which the sweating is maintained, Weak solutions and/or lower te1n peratures necessitating longer periods than When stronger solutions or higher te1nperatures are employed.

l i hen the skins are rexnmxed from the sweating vat they. are sulnnitted to 21 Till?- bing or brushing! action to remove the fur and hair therefrom and this operation should he performed as soon as possible after the removal of the skins from the vet.

I claim In the treatment of skins a process for I; the removal and recovery of the fur am hair Without in'ipairing the usefulness of the said skins for tanning and the production of leather consisting 01 first immersing the skins in a Weak solution of sulphide of soda (approximately 8%) for the requisite period for the removal of blood and fatty matter (approximately 12 hours) then subjecting the said slzins to treatment With a solution or ammonia maintaining the skins therein at a temperature oi from 80 to 320 F. for period of shoot 12 hours and "hen subjecting the said skins to a sweat" operation for a period of from 12 to Q4; iiurs and finally ren'ioving the fur or as set forte.

lr te in'iony whereof I aiiix my signature in'pi'esence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE DUCKVVORTH.

ll i t nes.

CHEM A. Hnoig 1 T? ikEKTI-LA i, CLARKE.

hair by mechanical means substantially 

